Data storage library with acclimation chamber

ABSTRACT

A data storage library includes at least a first library portion and at least a second library portion, with the second library portion including an environmental conditioning unit configured to control environmental conditions within the second library portion. The data storage library also includes at least one acclimation chamber formed within the first library portion, which permits transition of environmental condition(s) within the at least one acclimation chamber toward at least one of the corresponding environmental condition(s) external and internal to the second library portion. At least one deployable environmental barrier is configured to extend at least partially between the first library portion and the second library portion to insulate the at least one environmental condition within the at least one acclimation chamber from the at least one environmental condition within the second library portion.

RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent document claims priority to, and is a continuation of, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/460,345, filed Mar. 16, 2017. Thedisclosure of the priority application is fully incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a data storage library for the storageand data transfer of a plurality of tape cartridges, and morespecifically, to a data storage library having one or more libraryframes forming an acclimation chamber of the data storage library.

Automated data storage libraries are known for providing cost effectivestorage and retrieval of large quantities of data. The data in automateddata storage libraries is typically stored on media of data storagecartridges that are, in turn, stored at storage slots or the like insidethe library in a fashion that renders the media, and its resident data,accessible for physical retrieval. Such data storage cartridges arecommonly termed “removable media.” Data storage cartridge media maycomprise any type of media on which data may be stored and which mayserve as removable media, including but not limited to magnetic media(such as magnetic tape or disks), optical media (such as optical tape ordisks), electronic media (such as PROM, EEPROM, flash PROM,COMPACTFLASH™, SMARTMEDIA™, MEMORY STICK™, etc.), or other suitablemedia. An example of a data storage cartridge that is widely employed inautomated data storage libraries for mass data storage is a magnetictape cartridge.

In addition to data storage media, automated data storage librariestypically comprise data storage drives that store data to, and/orretrieve data from, the data storage cartridge media. Further, automateddata storage libraries typically comprise I/O stations at which datastorage cartridges are supplied or added to, or removed from, thelibrary. The transport of data storage cartridges between data storageslots, data storage drives, and I/O stations is typically accomplishedby one or more robotic accessors. Such accessors have grippers forphysically retrieving the selected data storage cartridges from thestorage slots within the automated data storage library and transportingsuch cartridges to the data storage drives by moving, for example, inthe horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) directions.

In an effort to increase storage capacity, deep slot technology allowsfor storage cells that contain more than a single data storagecartridge. Such storage libraries allow for higher density, or morecartridges stored per square foot. In “deep slot” libraries, two or morecartridges may be stored in a multi-cartridge deep slot cell, arrayed inseries, one behind the other, in tiers ranging from a front-most tier toa rearmost tier.

Efforts to improve the performance of traditional data centers attemptto minimize the cost of processing and storing data. One option that isemployed to reduce operational costs of datacenters is to run theequipment in the datacenter at the high end of its environmentaloperational limits, thereby allowing for cooling of the datacenter to bereduced. In other words, datacenters are running increasingly hot andmore humid conditions than traditional datacenters in an attempt toreduce operating costs. Although this strategy may be effective whenapplied to disk and/or flash data storage environments, magnetic tape ismore susceptible to degradation when exposed to these unfavorableconditions. Therefore, this option is not available for magnetic tapelibraries.

In an effort to control the environment within magnetic tape librariesso as to provide suitable working conditions for magnetic tape media,data storage drives, etc., air conditioning units may be incorporatedinto the data storage libraries themselves. While these air conditioningunits effectively control the temperature and humidity within the datastorage libraries, the environmental conditions of the area surroundingthe data storage libraries remain largely unchanged, with conditionsoften being higher in both temperature and humidity. While this mayallow a datacenter to operate at reduced costs, it may also result in amarked temperature differential between the interior and exteriorenvironments of the data storage libraries. Such a temperaturedifferential may prove problematic during service of the data storagelibrary and/or replacement of data storage library components such asdata storage cartridges, data storage drives, etc., as condensation maydevelop on replacement cartridges and other service parts duringinstallation and/or removal from the data storage library. Condensationaccumulation on such sensitive componentry may cause component failureand/or data loss.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a data storage libraryfor the handling and storage of a plurality of data storage cartridgesis disclosed. The data storage library includes at least a first libraryportion and at least a second library portion, wherein the secondlibrary portion is configured to store and receive media associated withone or more data storage cartridges and includes an environmentalconditioning unit configured to control at least one environmentalcondition within the second library portion to be different than atleast one environmental condition external to the first library portionand external to the second library portion. The data storage libraryalso includes at least one acclimation chamber formed within the firstlibrary portion, wherein the at least one acclimation chamber permitstransition of at least one environmental condition within the at leastone acclimation chamber toward one of the at least one environmentalcondition of the second library portion and the at least oneenvironmental condition external to the first library portion and thesecond library portion. Additionally, the data storage library includesat least one deployable environmental barrier, wherein the at least onedeployable environmental barrier is configured to extend at leastpartially between the first library portion and the second libraryportion to insulate the at least one environmental condition within theat least one acclimation chamber from the at least one environmentalcondition within the second library portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a system isdisclosed having at least a first data storage frame and at least asecond date storage frame, wherein the second data storage framecomprises an environmental conditioning unit configured to control atleast one environmental condition within at least the second datastorage frame. The system further includes at least one environmentalbarrier selectively deployable between the first data storage frame andthe second data storage frame, wherein the at least one environmentalbarrier is configured to selectively separate the first data storageframe from the second data storage frame to form an acclimation chamberin the first data storage frame.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of servicing orreplacing a component within a data storage library is disclosed. Themethod includes providing a data storage library having at least a firstlibrary portion and a second library portion, as well as providing anenvironmental barrier at least partially between the first libraryportion and the second library portion so as to separate theenvironmental conditions within the first library portion from theenvironmental conditions within the second library portion to form atleast one acclimation chamber within the first library portion. Themethod further includes monitoring at least one environmental conditionwithin the at least one acclimation chamber, monitoring at least oneenvironmental condition within at least one of an interior of the secondlibrary portion and outside of the first library portion and outside ofthe second library portion, and determining if the at least oneenvironmental condition within the at least one acclimation chamber iswithin a determined range of one of the monitored environmentalconditions within the second library portion and environmentalconditions outside of the first library portion and the second libraryportion. Furthermore, the method includes accessing the at least oneacclimation chamber when it is determined that the at least oneenvironmental condition within the at least one acclimation chamber iswithin the determined range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of an automated datastorage library.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another embodiment of an automated datastorage library

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage frame from the data storagelibrary of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an automated datastorage library.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting a controller configuration accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of one embodiment of a system for storingmagnetic recording media.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an automated data storage data storagelibrary in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an automated data storage data storagelibrary in accordance with another embodiment

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the service bay and acclimation chamberof FIGS. 6A & 6B.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of acclimating one or more servicebays in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a method of acclimating one or more servicebays in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of acclimating one or more servicebays in accordance with another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating thegeneral principles of the present invention and is not meant to limitthe inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular featuresdescribed herein can be used in combination with other describedfeatures in each of the various possible combinations and permutations.

Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be giventheir broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied fromthe specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in theart and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.

It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1A & 1B and FIG. 2 illustrate an example of a data storage system,e.g., an automated data storage library 10 which stores and retrievesdata storage cartridges, containing data storage media (not shown), frommulti-cartridge deep slot storage cells 100 and single cartridge storageslots 16. Examples of an automated data storage library which has asimilar configuration as that depicted in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, and may beimplemented with some of the various approaches herein may include IBMTS4500 Library or the IBM 3584 UltraScalable Tape Library.

The library 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1A comprises a left handservice bay 13, one or more storage frames 11, and right hand servicebay 14. The library 10 of FIG. 1B comprises a left handed service bay13, one or more storage frames 11, a right handed service bay 14 andoptional environmental conditioning units 1012 which may control thetemperature, humidity and/or other environmental conditions in theinterior of the library 10. While two environmental conditioning unitsare shown in FIG. 1B, it will be appreciated that more or lessenvironmental conditioning units 1012 may be associated with thelibrary, and in circumstances the library may have no environmentalconditioning units. As will be discussed in further detail below, aframe may comprise an expansion component of the library. Thus, storageframes may be added or removed to expand or reduce the size and/orfunctionality of the library. According to different approaches, framesmay include additional storage slots, deep storage slot cells, drives,import/export stations, accessors, operator panels, controller cards,communication cards, etc. Moreover, an accessor aisle 12 preferablyextends between the storage frames and bays of the embodiments in FIGS.1A & 1B thereby allowing an accessor to move between frames. A moveableand/or deployable panel 21 may be displaced to cover and/or block (aswell uncover and/or unblock) aisle 12 from communicating with theexterior of the data storage library. Panel 21 may be moved and/orremoved to permit access to the interior of the service bays 13, 14.Panel 21 may be a window to permit visibility into the library 10.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a storage frame 11, which mayact as the base frame of the library 10. The storage frame 11illustrated in FIG. 2 may have only a single accessor 18 (i.e., thereare no redundant accessors) and no service bay. However, in otherembodiments, a storage frame may include multiple robotic accessorsand/or service bays.

Looking to FIG. 2, the library 10 is arranged for accessing data storagemedia in response to commands from at least one external host system(not shown). The library 10 includes a plurality of storage slots 16 onfront door 17 and a plurality of multi-cartridge deep slot cells 100 onrear wall 19, both of which may be used for storing data storagecartridges that may contain data storage media. According to oneapproach, the storage slots 16 are configured to store a single datastorage cartridge, and the multi-cartridge deep slot cells 100 areconfigured to store a plurality of data storage cartridges. Thearrangement and positioning of the storage slots 16 and the deep slotcells 100 may be different than illustrated in FIG. 2.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the storage frame 11 of the library10 also includes at least one data storage drive 15, e.g., for readingand/or writing data with respect to the data storage media in the datastorage cartridges. Additionally, a first accessor 18 may be used totransport data storage cartridges containing data storage media betweenthe plurality of storage slots 16, the multi-cartridge deep slot cells100, and/or the data storage drive(s) 15. According to variousapproaches, the data storage drives 15 may be optical disk drives,magnetic tape drives, or other types of data storage drives that areused to read and/or write data with respect to the data storage media.

As illustrated, the storage frame 11 may optionally include an operatorpanel or other user interface, such as a web-based interface, whichallows a user to interact with the library 10. Optionally, the library10 may have an associated software application having a user interface,which also allows a user to interact with the library 10. The softwareapplication may be executable on a computing device, a remote server, acloud or a mobile device.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the automated data storage library 10 asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 1A & 1B and FIG. 2, is depictedaccording to one embodiment. According to a preferred approach, thelibrary 10 may employ a controller, e.g., arranged as a distributedsystem of modules with a plurality of processor nodes.

In one approach, the library is controlled, not by a central controller,but rather, by a distributed control system for receiving logicalcommands and converting the commands to physical movements of theaccessor and gripper, and for operating the drives in accordance withthe desired physical movements. The distributed control system may alsoprovide logistical support, such as responding to host requests forelement status, inventory, library status, etc. The specific commands,the conversion of those commands to physical movements of the accessor,gripper, controllers, and other components, and the operation of thedrives may be of a type known to those of skill in the art.

While the automated data storage library 10 has been described asemploying a distributed control system, various other approachesdescribed and/or suggested herein may be implemented in automated datastorage libraries regardless of control configuration, such as, but notlimited to, an automated data storage library having one or more librarycontrollers that are not distributed.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, library 10 receives commands fromone or more host systems 40, 41, 42. The host systems 40, 41, 42, suchas host servers, communicate with the library directly, e.g., on line 80(e.g., path), through one or more control ports (not shown), or throughone or more data storage drives 15 on paths 81, 82. Thus, in differentapproaches, the host systems 40, 41, 42 may provide commands to accessparticular data storage cartridges and move the cartridges, for example,between the storage slots 16, the deep slot cells 100, and the datastorage drives 15. The commands are typically logical commandsidentifying the data storage cartridges or data storage cartridge media,and/or logical locations for accessing the media. Furthermore, it shouldbe noted that the terms “commands” and “work requests” are usedinterchangeably herein to refer to such communications from the hostsystem 40, 41, 42 to the library 10 as are intended to result inaccessing particular data storage media within the library 10 dependingon the desired approach.

According to one embodiment, the library 10 may be controlled by alibrary controller. Moreover, in various approaches, the librarycontroller may include a distributed control system receiving thelogical commands from hosts, determining the required actions, and/orconverting the actions to physical movements of the first and/or secondaccessors 18, 28 and/or gripper assemblies 20, 30. In another approach,the distributed control system may have a plurality of processor nodes,each having one or more computer processors. According to one example ofa distributed control system, a communication processor node 50 may belocated in a storage frame 11. The communication processor node providesa communication link for receiving the host commands, either directly orthrough the drives 15, via at least one external interface, e.g.,coupled to line 80.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication processor node 50 is coupledto each of the data storage drives 15 of a storage frame 11, via lines70, and may communicate with the drives 15 and with host systems 40, 41,42. Alternatively, the host systems 40, 41, 42 may be directly coupledto the communication processor node 50, at line 80 (e.g., input) forexample, or to control port devices (not shown) which connect thelibrary to the host system(s) with a library interface similar to thedrive/library interface. As is known to those of skill in the art,various communication arrangements may be employed for communicationwith the hosts and with the data storage drives. In the example of FIG.3, lines 80 and 81 are intended to be Ethernet and a SCSI bus,respectively, and may serve as host connections. However, path 82comprises an example of a Fibre Channel bus which is a high speed serialdata interface, allowing transmission over greater distances than theSCSI bus systems.

According to some approaches, the data storage drives 15 may be in closeproximity to the communication processor node 50, and may employ a shortdistance communication scheme, such as Ethernet, or a serial connection,such as RS-422. Thus, the data storage drives 15 may be individuallycoupled to the communication processor node 50 by lines 70.Alternatively, the data storage drives 15 may be coupled to thecommunication processor node 50 through one or more networks.

Furthermore, additional storage frames 11 may be provided, whereby eachis preferably coupled to the adjacent storage frame. According tovarious approaches, any of the additional storage frames 11 may includecommunication processor nodes 50, storage slots 16, storage cells 100,data storage drives 15, networks 60, etc.

An automated data storage library 10 typically comprises one or morecontrollers to direct the operation of the automated data storagelibrary. Moreover, host computers and data storage drives typicallyinclude similar controllers. A library controller may take manydifferent forms and may comprise, for example, but is not limited to, anembedded system, a distributed control system, a personal computer, aworkstation, etc. The term “library controller” as used herein isintended in its broadest sense as a device that includes at least oneprocessor, and optionally further circuitry and/or logic, forcontrolling and/or providing at least some aspects of libraryoperations.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a typical controller 400 is shown with aprocessor 402, Random Access Memory (RAM) 403, nonvolatile memory 404,device specific circuits 401, and I/O interface 405. Alternatively, theRAM 403 and/or nonvolatile memory 404 may be contained in the processor402 as could the device specific circuits 401 and I/O interface 405. Theprocessor 402 may comprise, for example, an off-the-shelfmicroprocessor, custom processor, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), discrete logic, etc. TheRAM 403 is typically used to hold variable data, stack data, executableinstructions, etc.

According to various approaches, the nonvolatile memory 404 may compriseany type of nonvolatile memory such as, but not limited to, ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash Programmable ReadOnly Memory (PROM), battery backup RAM, hard disk drives, etc. However,the nonvolatile memory 404 is typically used to hold the executablefirmware and any nonvolatile data containing programming instructionsthat can be executed to cause the processor 402 to perform certainfunctions.

In some embodiments, the I/O interface 405 may include a communicationinterface that allows the processor 402 to communicate with devicesexternal to the controller. Examples of the communication interface maycomprise, but are not limited to, serial interfaces such as RS-232, USB(Universal Serial Bus), Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI), RS-422or a wireless communication interface such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,near-field communication (NFC) or other wireless interfaces. Thecontroller 400 may communicate with an external device via thecommunication interface 405 in any communication protocols such asAutomation/Drive Interface (ADI).

The device specific circuits 401 provide additional hardware to enablethe controller 400 to perform unique functions including, but notlimited to, motor control of an accessor cartridge gripper. Moreover,the device specific circuits 401 may include electronics that provide,by way of example but not limitation, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)control, Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC), Digital to AnalogConversion (DAC), etc. In addition, all or part of the device specificcircuits 401 may reside outside the controller 400.

While the automated data storage library 10 is described as employing adistributed control system, the various approaches described and/orsuggested herein may be implemented in various automated data storagelibraries regardless of control configuration, including, but notlimited to, an automated data storage library having one or more librarycontrollers that are not distributed. Moreover, a library controller maycomprise one or more dedicated controllers of a library, depending onthe desired embodiment. For example, there may be a primary controllerand a backup controller. In addition, a library controller may compriseone or more processor nodes of a distributed control system. Accordingto one example, communication processor node 50 (e.g., of FIG. 3) maycomprise the library controller while the other processor nodes (ifpresent) may assist the library controller and/or may provide backup orredundant functionality. In another example, communication processornode 50 and work processor node 52 may work cooperatively to form thelibrary controller while the other processor nodes (if present) mayassist the library controller and/or may provide backup or redundantfunctionality. Still further, all of the processor nodes may comprisethe library controller. According to various approaches described and/orsuggested herein, a library controller may have a single processor orcontroller, or it may include multiple processors or controllers, ormultiple cores in a processor chip.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a system 1000 includes a frame 1002 of anautomated data storage library 1004. As described above, automatedlibraries are typically used to store cartridges and drives in largearrays to store large amounts of data. Thus, an interior of frame 1002is illustrated as a tape library in one embodiment, and is depicted asincluding one or more tape drives 1006, an area for storing tapecartridges (e.g., multi-cartridge deep slot cells 1008 and singlecartridge storage slots 1009), and a robotic accessor 1010, among othercomponents which would be apparent to one skilled in the art uponreading the present description (e.g., see FIG. 2 above).

System 1000 further includes an optional environmental conditioning unit1012 associated with the frame 1002. The environmental conditioning unit1012 may be integrated with and coupled to frame 1002. For the purposesof the present disclosure, it is to be understood that an environmentalconditioning unit may be any device which conditions the air and/or thesurrounding environment and is able to change the environmentalconditions. The environmental conditions may include (but are notlimited to) temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. In one embodiment, theenvironmental conditioning unit may be an air-conditioning unit. Inother embodiments, the environmental conditioning unit may be athermo-electric heater, a thermo-electric cooler, an electric heater, aliquid heater, a liquid cooler, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, anionizer, a de-ionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, one or more fans,or any combination thereof. An environmental conditioning unit inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure may increase ordecrease the temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. The environmentalconditioning unit 1012 may be coupled to an upper surface 1014 (e.g.,the roof) of the frame 1002 as shown in FIGS. 1B and FIG. 5. Theenvironmental conditioning unit 1012 preferably operates withoutnegatively affecting the operating conditions in the frame 1002.Alternatively, an environmental conditioning unit may be functionallyassociated with the frame 1002 by positioning the environmentalconditioning unit elsewhere and using ducts to route the air to theinterior of the frame 1002, coupling the environmental conditioning unitto a side of the frame 1002, coupling the environmental conditioningunit to a bottom of the frame 1002 (underneath the frame 1002), etc.,depending on the desired approach.

The environmental conditioning unit 1012 is preferably configured suchthat it may adjust, change and/or regulate the relative conditions(e.g., temperature, humidity, contaminant presence via filtering, etc.)inside the frame 1002. Thus, according to different approaches, theenvironmental conditioning unit may be able to reduce the temperature ofthe interior of the frame 1002 and/or reduce the relative humidity ofthe interior of the frame 1002, depending on the type of environmentalconditioning unit 1012 employed. The environmental conditioning unit1012 is preferably configured to turn on and off as desired to maintaina selected temperature and/or humidity in the interior of the frame1002. Alternatively, the environmental conditioning unit may have a fanand the fan can be left always on to keep air circulating within theinterior of the frame. In one embodiment, the environmental conditioningunit may be an air conditioning unit and the fan may be continuously onand the condenser may turn on and off to maintain a selected temperatureand/or humidity in the interior of the frame 1002.

As would be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the environmentalconditioning unit 1012 may be an air conditioning unit and may be ableto adjust the relative temperature and/or humidity of the interior ofthe frame 1002 in a conventional manner. Cold air may flow into theinterior of the frame 1002 via an inlet air duct 1030 which may connectthe environmental conditioning unit 1012 to the interior of the frame1002, and form an inlet 1035 in the upper surface 1014 of the frame1002. Specifically, an inlet air duct 1030 may direct the air cooled bythe environmental conditioning unit 1012 into the interior of the frame1002, e.g., where the majority of the data storage media may be stored.As a result, air flow is created from the environmental conditioningunit 1012 to the interior of the frame 1002, as indicated by arrows1024. This air flow may be induced by a fan included in theenvironmental conditioning unit 1012 and/or by using the fans in the oneor more tape drives 1006 in the frame 1002. Although the air flow ispreferably directed from the environmental conditioning unit 1012 to theinterior of the frame 1002, and from the interior of the frame 1002 backto the environmental conditioning unit 1012, the particular path thatthe air flow is shown as extending along in the present embodiment byarrows 1024 is in no way intended to limit the disclosure or theinvention.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, system 1000 may include an enclosure1020 for the environmental conditioning unit 1012. An additional fan1040 may be included in the enclosure 1020 for passing ambient air overexternal components of the environmental conditioning unit 1012 tofurther promote heating, cooling and/or conditioning of the air.Moreover, the enclosure 1020 may include an opening, a baffle orbaffles, etc. to direct ambient air exterior to the library 1004 towardan inlet 1022 of the environmental conditioning unit 1012.

In one embodiment, any vents, voids, seams, etc. in the frame 1002 ofthe library 1004, other than inlet 1035 and an outlet 1032 in an uppersurface 1014 of the frame 1002, are preferably sealed such that air fromoutside the frame 1002 is restricted from entering the interior thereof.The frame 1002 may be sealed using any processes which would be apparentto one skilled in the art upon reading the present description, e.g.,including but not limited to inserting foam, implementing insulatingseals, etc. New frames may be built without any vents, voids, seams,etc. The housing and panels enclosing the frame 1002 may also beinsulated to prevent or inhibit unconditioned air from entering theframe 1002.

The frame 1002 may also include one or more environmental sensors 1050exterior to the library 1004 and may also include one or more sensors1055 exterior to the library 1004 but inside the enclosure 1020 for theenvironmental conditioning unit 1012. In one embodiment the sensors 1055may be located in front of inlet 1022 of the environmental conditioningunit 1012. The environmental sensors 1050, 1055 may be any sensorappropriate for determining the environmental conditions at the sensorlocation, such as one or more temperature sensors, one or more humiditysensors, one or more pressure sensors, etc. The one or moreenvironmental sensors 1050, 1055 may be in communication with a librarycontroller, such as library controller 400 shown and described withrespect to FIG. 4. The one or more signals provided by the environmentalsensors 1050, 1055 may be utilized to control the output and operationof the environmental conditioning unit 1012. Although the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 5 includes a single frame 1002 and a singleenvironmental conditioning unit 1012, other embodiments may includeadditional frames and/or environmental conditioning units.

System 1000 illustrated in FIG. 5 may further comprise one or moreenvironmental sensors 1028 disposed within the interior of the library1002. The environmental sensor(s) may be any appropriate sensor fordetermining the environmental conditions within the frame 1002, such asone or more temperature sensors, one or more humidity sensors, one ormore pressure sensors, etc. The one or more environmental sensors 1028may be in communication with a library controller, such as controller400 shown and described with respect to FIG. 4. As such, the signalprovided by the one or more environmental sensors 1028 may be utilizedto control the output and operation of the environmental conditioningunit 1012.

Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a single frame1002 and a single environmental conditioning unit 1012, otherembodiments may include additional frames and/or environmentalconditioning units.

While a data storage library having an associated, preferably integratedenvironmental conditioning unit advantageously controls theenvironmental conditions within the library, some challenges may existwhen components within such a data storage library need to be servicedor replaced. As noted above, many data centers are now maintained athigher temperatures and higher humidity levels to reduce the costsrelating to cooling the environment where the data storage library islocated, e.g., the data center. For this reason, environmentalconditions of the data center may be substantially different from thosewithin a data storage library having an associated environmentalconditioning unit which controls the environmental conditions within thedata storage library. As such, a component (such as a data storagecartridge, tape drive, accessor, etc.) that is moved abruptly from, forexample, the warm, humid environment of the data center to the cool, dryenvironment of the data storage library may develop condensation onsurfaces thereof. Additionally, moving a component (such as, forexample, a data storage cartridge) from the cool, less humid environmentof the data storage library to the warmer, more humid data center mayalso develop condensation on surfaces. Moisture build-up on surfaces ofsensitive components such as data storage cartridges and tape drives isundesirable, as moisture may adversely affect performance and/or lead tofailure of the components and/or data loss. Tape cartridges and magnetictape media may be susceptible to the formation of condensation which maynegatively impact the performance of a tape library.

Thus, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one or moreacclimation chambers may be associated with the data storage library soas to gradually acclimate components (e.g., data storage cartridges,replacement data storage drives, accessors, power supplies, librarycontrollers, etc.) that are placed in the acclimation chamber fortransport between the environmental conditions of the data storagelibrary and the environment external to the data storage library, e.g.,the data center. The acclimation chamber may permit components to begradually acclimated when they are to be moved from a first environment(e.g., a hot and humid data center) into a second environment (e.g., acool and dry data storage library), thereby impeding, resisting,inhibiting and/or preventing the formation and/or accumulation ofcondensation on or within the transferred components. Similarly, the oneor more acclimation chambers may also gradually acclimate the componentswhen they are to be moved from the second environment (e.g., a cool anddry data storage library) into the first environment (e.g., a hot andhumid data center). Additionally, the one or more acclimation chambersmay be configured and operate so as to allow a person to access theinterior of the data storage library to perform maintenance, import(insert) data storage cartridges, export (remove) data storagecartridges, etc., without introducing undesirable environmentalconditions into the environmentally-controlled data storage library. Inone embodiment the acclimation chamber may rely upon osmosis togradually acclimate the environmental conditions in the acclimationchamber to the desired parameters. The acclimation chamber in one ormore embodiments may have one or more ducts, baffles, portals, openingsand/or vents (herein referred to as vents) in communication with one orboth of the interior and/or exterior environment of the data storagelibrary. A moveable door, baffle, and/or barrier may be selectivelydisplaceable relative to the vents to facilitate gradually adjustingenvironmental conditions within the acclimation chamber. In alternativeembodiments, to gradually change the environment within the acclimationchambers, the acclimation chamber(s) may be associated with and/orincorporate one or more environmental control devices therein, such asan electric heater, a thermoelectric heater, a thermoelectric cooler, aliquid heater, a liquid cooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, anevaporative cooler, an ionizer, a deionizer, a humidifier, adehumidifier, one or more fans, filters, or any known environmentaldevice, and combinations thereof.

In one aspect, the one or more acclimation chambers may be formed withinone or more service bays associated with the data storage library. Theservice bay(s) may include one or more environmental barriers capable ofbeing deployed so as to resist, impede, inhibit, and/or preventenvironmental conditions from intruding into the service bay and/orestablish and/or maintain an environmental separation between theinterior of the active library frame(s) of the data storage library andthe interior of the service bay(s). In one example, one or more theenvironmental barriers may help and/or facilitate insulating, separatingand/or isolating the environmental conditions within the acclimationchamber (e.g., the portion of or entirety of the service bay) from theinterior of the active, operational library frame(s) and/or the exteriorof the library system.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a data storage library 2000 in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure is illustrated. Data storagelibrary 2000 in FIG. 6A is shown as a seven-frame data storage libraryhaving a plurality of primary library frames 2001, a left-hand servicebay 2002, and a right-hand service bay 2003. However, it is to beunderstood that more or less primary library frames 2001 may be presentin data storage library 2000, and one of service bays 2002, 2003 may beomitted. Library frames 2001 may comprise conventional data storagelibrary componentry, similar to that which is found in library 10described above with respect to FIG. 2. For instance, one or more oflibrary frames 2001 may comprise a plurality of storage slots to holddata storage cartridges associated with data storage media, one or moredata storage drives, and one or more robotic accessors. Service bays2002, 2003 may also comprise similar componentry to that which is foundin service bays 13, 14 in library 10 described above with respect toFIGS. 1A-1B. Furthermore, data storage library 2000 optionally may beequipped with one or more environmental conditioning units, asillustrated in FIG. 6B, such as that described above with respect todata storage library 10 in FIG. 1B and 1004 in FIG. 10. In oneembodiment, it is contemplated that the data storage library will be atape library which may include tape cartridges, tape drives, andaccessors.

The respective library frames 2001 and service bays 2002, 2003 may be inenvironmental communication with one another. For example, openings maybe formed between each adjacent library frame 2001 and the service bays2002, 2003 such that the environmental conditions within the entirety ofdata storage library 2000 may be substantially consistent throughout.Furthermore, one or more robotic accessors may travel between adjacentlibrary frames 2001 and to and into service bays 2002, 2003, and thedata storage library may have a customizable capacity.

While the adjacent library frames 2001 and service bays 2002, 2003 areconfigured to be in environmental communication with one another, e.g.,through openings, in accordance with an aspect of the presentdisclosure, the respective service bays 2002, 2003 each comprise anenvironmental barrier capable of at least partially insulating,isolating, and/or separating the environmental conditions within therespective service bays 2002, 2003 from the environmental conditionswithin library frames 2001 and the exterior of the data storage library2000 to form an acclimation chamber 2010 (FIG. 7). The environmentalbarrier may impede, resist, inhibit and/or prevent environmentalconditions from inside the library from intruding into the interior ofthe respective service bays. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates service bay2002 having an opening 2006 in the service bay 2002 whereby the accessorcommunicates with the adjacent library frames 2001. Service bay 2002further comprises an environmental barrier 2005 disposed within opening2006. The environmental barrier 2005 may comprise a door, a hangingpanel, a sliding panel, a hinged panel, hanging slats or flaps (similarto vertical blinds), a split membrane, an air curtain, or any othersuitable environmental barrier capable of establishing and/ormaintaining two different environments on respective sides thereof;and/or impeding, resisting, inhibiting and/or preventing environmentalconditions from inside the library frame from intruding into the servicebay, or vice versa. It is to be understood that service bay 2003 may besimilarly constructed and may also comprise an environmental barrier2005.

Deployment of the environmental barrier 2005 may be accomplished eithermanually or automatically. For example, the environmental barrier 2005may be manually placed by an operator (e.g., prior to a serviceoperation, prior to a data storage cartridge import/export operation,etc.) by, e.g., pushing or pulling a panel into place or closing a doorin an opening between a service bay and an adjacent library frame.Alternatively, the environmental barrier 2005 may be moved into place bycertain movements of a robot accessor. For instance, a passing robotaccessor may activate a latch or grasp a panel as it moves between aservice bay and adjacent library frame, thereby deploying theenvironmental barrier 2005. The environmental barrier 2005 may also bemoved into place by the library controller via a mechanical controldevice (e.g., motors or actuators). Still further, the environmentalbarrier 2005 may be permanently in place and the library accessor(s) maybe capable of passing through the barrier (e.g., through hanging slotsor an air curtain).

The data storage library 2000 may continue to operate normally when oneor both of service bays 2002, 2003 are being used as an acclimationchamber 2010. For example, the library may have more than one accessorsuch that at least one accessor is available for normal operation withinthe library frames 2001, while one or more other robotic accessors aredisposed within one or both of service bays 2002, 2003 for service.Alternatively, if the accessor is not in need of service, the one orboth of service bays 2002, 2003 may be used as an acclimation chamber2010 for other componentry (such as, e.g., data storage cartridges, datastorage drives, power supplies, library controllers, Fibre Channelswitches, Ethernet switches, etc.), and the one or more accessors may beprevented from entering one or both of service bays 2002, 2003 when theyare being used as an acclimation chamber.

In one example, the service bay 2002 may be normally open to the rest ofthe library frames 2001 such that the environmental conditions withinthe service bay 2002 are the same or similar to the environment,preferably conditioned environment, of the rest of the data storagelibrary 2000. That is, the barrier 2005 is not in place, the opening2006 is not blocked and/or restricted, and the interior of the servicebay 2002 communicates with the interior of the library frame 2001. Whenan accessor requires service, it is moved (either manually orautomatically) into service bay 2002. In response to and/or after entryof the accessor into the service bay, an environmental barrier 2005 maybe positioned to create a physical environmental barrier between theservice bay 2002 and the rest of the data storage library 2000 accordingto any of the deployment methods described above. The environmentalconditions within the service bay 2002 are then changed to begin theacclimation process. The different manners, methods, and processes bywhich the environmental conditions within the acclimation chamber 2010may be adjusted and/or changed will be discussed later in thedisclosure. The acclimation chamber 2010 (service bay 2002) graduallyacclimates to be at, near, and/or within a range of the ambientenvironment (i.e., the environment outside the library), or one or moredesired environmental conditions of the ambient environment (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity), and thereafter the service bay door 2004may be opened and repairs to the accessor may begin. Alternatively,and/or additionally, service may be performed and/or componentry passedinto the service bay 2002 through barrier 2005 and/or throughimport/export (I/O) stations 2024, 2025.

The determination of whether or not environmental conditions within theacclimation chamber 2010 (service bay 2002) are properly acclimated tothe environmental conditions outside the library may be made through anyappropriate method, such as the passage of a predetermined amount oftime after the barrier is deployed, or through the use of one or moreenvironmental sensors, both outside of and within the service bay 2002(e.g., within acclimation chamber 2010). For example, one or moreenvironmental sensors 2007 (e.g., temperature sensor(s), humiditysensor(s), etc.) may be placed outside of service bay 2002 so as todetermine the ambient environmental conditions of where the library isoperated (e.g., the surrounding data center), while one or moreenvironmental sensors 2008 (e.g., temperature sensor(s), humiditysensor(s), etc.) may be placed within service bay 2002 so as todetermine the environmental conditions within the service bay 2002. Inaddition, one or more environmental sensors (e.g., temperaturesensor(s), humidity sensor(s), etc.) may be placed outside acclimationchamber 2010 (service bay 2002) but inside library 2000 (e.g., in anadjacent frame 2001) so as to determine the environmental conditionswithin the library frame, e.g., the conditioned portion of library 2000.

After repairs are completed and components are inserted or removed,etc., the service bay door 2004 may be closed (if opened) and thereverse acclimation process may be triggered. Once the acclimationchamber 2010 (service bay 2002) has acclimated to the conditionedenvironment (e.g., the environment inside the data storage library), theenvironmental barrier 2005 may be removed, either completely orpartially, and components may be moved freely between the acclimationchamber 2010 (service bay 2002) and other areas of the library (e.g.,cartridges may be moved or the accessor may return to active usagewithin the data storage library 2000, and may also operate freely withinthe service bay 2002). While FIG. 7 illustrates environmental barrier2005 placed such that the entirety of service bay 2002 is separatedand/or isolated so as to form an acclimation chamber 2010, it is to beunderstood that environmental barrier 2005 may be placed at analternative location within service bay 2002 such that only part ofservice bay 2002 may be utilized as an acclimation chamber (e.g., onlyhalf of the frame).

The acclimation process and/or alternating the acclimation chamberbetween an ambient external environment and a conditioned internalenvironment may be initiated manually. For example, an operator maypress a button or select an option on a user interface (e.g., a web userinterface, operator panel 23 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, etc.) of the datastorage library. In another example, an operator may initiate a serviceprocedure and that service procedure may result in the acclimationchamber environment being modified. Alternatively, the acclimationprocess and/or alternating the acclimation chamber between environmentalconditions at, near, and/or within a range of the ambient externalenvironment and a conditioned internal environment may be initiatedautomatically. For example, an accessor failure may result in theacclimation chamber environment being modified after the accessor hasmoved (or has been manually moved) into a service bay.

In an alternative aspect, one or more of the service bays 2002, 2003 maybe used as an acclimation chamber 2010 for acclimation of data storagecartridges. For example, if an operator determines there is a need toinsert data storage cartridges, data storage drives, and/or accessorsinto (or out of) the library, the operator may indicate to the datastorage library 2000 that one or more of the service bays 2002, 2003should be prepared for opening to the ambient environment (e.g., byselecting an option on an operator panel 23 in FIGS. 1A and 1B of thedata storage library). Alternatively, the acclimation chamber mayalready be at an ambient state, either due to the ambient state being adefault state for one or more of the service bays 2002, 2003, or due toone or more of the service bays 2002, 2003 being left in an ambientstate after a previous operation. Once the one or more of the servicebays 2002, 2003 are ready to act as an acclimation chamber (e.g., theenvironmental barrier 2005 has been moved to restrict, impede, and/orblock the opening 2006 and insulate, separate, and/or isolate theenvironment inside the acclimation chamber from the environment insidethe active and/or operational library frames), the operator may open thedoor 2004 to the one or more of service bays 2002, 2003 acting as theacclimation chamber 2010, insert one or more data storage cartridges,data storage drives, accessors, actuators, controllers and/or othercomponentry and close the door 2004.

Alternatively, an operator may open an I/O station door (e.g., a doorassociated with upper I/O station 2024 and/or lower I/O station 2025),rather than opening door 2004, insert one or more data storagecartridges into the I/O station, and close the I/O station door. Otherthan the difference in which door is opened, the steps are the same.Herein, door refers to a library main door, a library secondary door, anI/O station door, or any other door, panel, hatch, portal, etc. forpurposes of accessing any part of the interior of the libraryacclimation chamber. A door may have a locking device that prevents thedoor from being opened until the environmental conditions inside theacclimation chamber are at, near, and/or within a range of the ambientexternal environment. In addition or alternatively, there may be one ormore visual indicators (e.g., text on a screen or lights) and/or audioindicators (e.g., beeper, horn or alarm) associated with a door toindicate when the environmental conditions inside the acclimationchamber are (or are not) at, near, and/or within a range of the ambientexternal environment. While the barrier 2005 has been described asselectively deployable it will be appreciated that the barrier 2005 mayremain in place and be configured so that the accessors and othercomponentry could pass through the barrier.

The one or more service bays 2002, 2003 may then begin the acclimationprocess by changing the one or more desired environmental conditionsfrom an ambient external environment to a conditioned internalenvironment of the active data storage library frame(s). This may betriggered manually (e.g., an operator presses a button or accesses auser interface associated with the data storage library), or it may betriggered automatically (e.g., by the closing of the service bay door2004).

The environmental conditions within the one or more service bays 2002,2003 forming the acclimation chamber 2010 may be changed through anyappropriate method, such as though activation of one or moreenvironmental control devices, e.g., fans, heaters, coolers, etc. Theacclimation chamber 2010, and the process by which the environmentalconditions adjust within the acclimation chamber 2010 to the conditionswithin the interior of the data storage library 2000, and morespecifically the conditioned environment of the library frames 2001,preferably occurs gradually to inhibit and/or prevent the formationand/or accumulation of condensation and/or moisture on or within thedata storage cartridges. Once the environmental conditions within one ormore of service bays 2002, 2003 are suitably similar to theenvironmental conditions within the conditioned portions of data storagelibrary 2000, and/or the data storage cartridges and/or othercomponentry has at least acclimated to be at, near and/or within a rangeof the environmental conditions of the acclimation chamber 2010 (e.g.,the data storage cartridges and/or other componentry has remained in theacclimation chamber a sufficient time period, which may be predeterminedand/or calculated in real-time based upon the actual internal andexternal environmental conditions of the data storage library), the datastorage cartridges, data storage drives, accessors, actuators,controllers, and/or other componentry may be moved throughout the datastorage library 2000 by one or more accessors in a conventional fashion.

According to another aspect, the data storage library acclimationchamber (or chambers) is not limited to service bays or end frames. Forexample, any frame of data storage library 2000 may be utilized as alibrary acclimation chamber in order to access and/or transport datastorage drives, data storage cartridges, library controllers, powersupplies, malfunctioning robot accessor(s), or any other component ofthe data storage library 2000 that may reside in, be placed in, and/orremoved from a library frame. In such a configuration, depending uponthe configuration of the data storage library system, there may be oneor more, for example, two environmental barriers, similar toenvironmental barriers 2005 described above associated with the datastorage library system. For example, frame 2002 in FIG. 7 may be anoperational data storage frame similar to frame 11 in FIG. 2 and/orframe 1002 in FIG. 10 and be located at the end of a plurality of framesconstituting a data storage library system. Active, operational datastorage frame 2002 may have one barrier 2005 associated with opening2006 to form an acclimation chamber 2010 as described above with respectto service bay 2002.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, active, operational data storageframe (or service bay) may be located in the interior of a line ofactive data storage frames and/or service bays and may have two or morebarriers 2005 similar to those shown and described in connection withFIG. 7. In this example, the first barrier 2005 may be located andoperate as shown and described in connection with FIG. 7 and a secondbarrier 2005′ would be associated with and deployable to restrict and/orblock a second opening (not shown) which would be associated with theinterior active library frame (or service bay)) and may be located, forexample, in place of the wall in which panel 2015 is illustrated in FIG.7. In this manner, barriers 2005, 2005′ may be associated with and/oroperable to be selectively deployable with one barrier for each side ofthe active, operational library frame (or service bay) to insulate,separate, and/or isolate the interior library frame (or service bay) tocreate an acclimation chamber. The barriers 2005, 2005′ preferablyresist, impede, inhibit and/or prevent environmental conditions, e.g.,temperature and/or humidity, from the interior of the library fromintruding into the acclimation chamber, and vice versa.

While the barriers 2005, 2005′ are described as selectively deployableit will be appreciated that the barriers 2005, 2005′ may remain in placeand be configured so that the accessors and other componentry could passthrough the barriers. Furthermore, the data storage library may continueto operate normally while the library frame is being used as anacclimation chamber. For example, the environmental barrier may allow anaccessor to enter (and/or pass through) the acclimation chamber as itdelivers and retrieves data storage cartridges from throughout the datastorage library, with the accessor being constructed so as to handlepotentially extreme and sudden changes in the environmental conditionsbetween the acclimation chamber and the operational library frames. Inanother example, the data storage library may continue to operate usingall frames except the data storage library frame being used as theacclimation chamber. Furthermore, instead of using an entire datastorage frame as an acclimation chamber, only part of the data storageframe may be used (e.g., half of the frame). Additionally, the datastorage library acclimation chamber may not be limited to a single datastorage frame or a partial data storage frame, but may instead compriseone, some, a plurality of or all of the data storage frames.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the data storagelibrary acclimation chamber may comprise a rear service area of one ormore of the library frames 2001 and/or service bays 2002, 2003. Such aconfiguration may be useful when an operator needs to access only partof a library frame. For example, it may be desirable to add or removetape drives in a particular library frame. Or, it may be desirable toservice components in the back of a data storage library frame (e.g.,library controllers, power supplies, data storage drives, storage slots,etc.). In another aspect, the data storage library acclimation chambermay comprise the front (i.e., the storage and robotic accessor area) ofthe data storage library frames of data storage library 2000.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the data storage libraryacclimation chamber may achieve environmental acclimation passively,i.e., through passive communication with the ambient environment. Forexample, one or more external vents, and/or portals (e.g., smallopenings) associated with and/or configured in the data storage libraryacclimation chamber to be in communication with the exterior of the datastorage library may be selectively opened to permit (or closed toimpede) ambient air from outside the data storage library to flow intothe acclimation chamber, either to bring the environmental conditionswithin the acclimation chamber to be at, near, and/or with a range orthreshold of the ambient external environmental conditions, or as partof an acclimation process. Additionally, and/or alternatively, one ormore internal vents, portals, (e.g., small openings) associated withand/or configured in the data storage library acclimation chamber to bein communication with the interior of the data storage library may beselectively opened to permit (or closed to impede) conditioned air frominside the data storage library to flow into the acclimation chamber,either to bring the environmental conditions within the acclimationchamber to be at, near, and/or within a range or threshold of theenvironmental conditions inside the data storage library, or as part ofan acclimation process. A door, baffle and/or barrier may be operativelyassociated with the vents, portals, openings, etc., and may be operatedmanually (e.g. by the operator) or automatically (e.g., by a datastorage library controller, motor, actuator and/or accessor) to open orclose the openings and/or portals.

Alternatively, the data storage library acclimation chamber may achieveenvironmental acclimation through one or more active environmentalcontrol devices, e.g., fans. For example, a fan may move air from theambient environment (i.e., the environment outside the data storagelibrary) into the data storage library acclimation chamber either toprepare the chamber for an ambient external state and/or as part of anacclimation process. Additionally, and/or alternatively, a fan may moveair from the conditioned environment (i.e., the environment inside thedata storage library) into the data storage library acclimation chamberto either prepare the chamber for a conditioned internal state and/or aspart of an acclimation process. One fan may be used to move ambient airinto the data storage library acclimation chamber and another fan may beused to move conditioned air from inside the library into the datastorage library acclimation chamber. Alternatively, a single fan couldbe used for both actions simply by changing the direction of the fanrotation. For example, a single fan could be associated with an externalsurface of the acclimation chamber (e.g., top surface of frame 2002).When the fan is rotating in one direction, ambient air moves fromoutside the library into the acclimation chamber. When the fan isrotating in the opposite direction, air moves from inside theacclimation chamber to the outside of the library, which creates a lowpressure that may cause conditioned air to move from adjacent libraryframes into the acclimation chamber. The fan(s) may be activatedmanually (e.g., by operator activation) or they may be activatedautomatically (e.g., by a data storage library controller). The fans mayhave a fixed air flow or they may have a variable airflow to allow theacclimation to be controlled by increasing or decreasing the air flow.

Still further, the data storage library acclimation chamber may achieveacclimation through the use of other environmental control devices, asdescribed above. For example, there may be a thermoelectric heaterand/or cooler associated with the acclimation chamber, with thethermoelectric heater and/or cooler acting as an environmental controldevice to assist with acclimation chamber preparation and/or anacclimation process. Furthermore, the acclimation chamber may comprisemultiple environmental control devices. For example, there may be one ormore fans, electric heaters and/or air conditioners. Such environmentalcontrol device(s) may be activated manually (e.g., by operatoractivation) or they may be activated automatically (e.g., by a datastorage library controller). Additionally, and/or alternatively, theacclimation chamber may be associated with and receive conditioned airfrom the environmental conditioning unit associated with the datastorage library system.

There may also be environmental sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity,etc.) associated with, in, or around the data storage libraryacclimation chamber; associated with, in, or around interior areas ofthe data storage library; associated with, in, or around anyenvironmental control devices; and/or associated with, in, or around theexterior of the data storage library. Such environmental sensors mayallow environmental conditions to be monitored and/or controlled duringpreparation of the acclimation chamber and/or an acclimation process.The monitoring and/or control may be performed by a controller in thedata storage library associated with the acclimation chamber; with oneor more environmental control devices; a data storage librarycontroller; and/or another control system.

The processes described herein may be performed utilizing one or moreembodiments of the acclimation chamber(s) described herein or by anyother acclimation chamber, including acclimation chambers that are notdisclosed herein. In one embodiment of the method of acclimating one ormore components for insertion into or removal from a data storagelibrary, the components are inserted into an acclimation chamber, suchas, for example, the acclimation chamber shown and described above inFIG. 7, or other undisclosed acclimation chamber, at first environmentalconditions. Both the acclimation chamber and the components insertedinto the acclimation chamber are preferably at the same firstenvironmental conditions, for example, the same temperature and/orhumidity level. However, there may be a temperature and/or humiditydifferential between the interior of the acclimation chamber andcomponents inserted into the acclimation chamber. The interior of theacclimation chamber and the components inserted therein are acclimatedto second environmental condition(s). For example, the temperatureand/or humidity levels at first environmental conditions may bedifferent than the temperature and/or humidity levels at the secondenvironmental conditions. And, the components are removed from theacclimation chamber. In one embodiment, the components may be insertedinto the chamber and held in the acclimation chamber for a sufficientperiod of time to acclimate to the second environmental conditions. Thetime period may be a predetermined time period, for example, twenty-four(24) hours. The predetermined time period preferably is sufficient topermit the components to sufficiently acclimate. The amount of timeprovided to acclimate may be more or less then twenty-four (24) hours.

The time period could also vary and be set depending upon theenvironmental conditions between the various environments (e.g., insideand outside the library). For example, the amount of time that isprovided to acclimate the components in the acclimation chamber maydepend upon the interior conditions inside the library, the exteriorconditions outside the library and/or both. A look-up table could beused or calculations performed to determine the amount of time thecomponent(s) stay inside the acclimation chamber before they areremoved. Sensors may be employed to measure the conditions inside andoutside the library. In another aspect, the process may involveincluding data on the interior conditions inside the acclimationchamber. Again sensors may be employed to measure conditions within theinterior of the acclimation chamber.

In embodiments, the acclimation chamber may be acclimated so thatinterior is at the desired environmental conditions, e.g., at or closeto the exterior library conditions, or at or close to the interiorlibrary conditions. To acclimate the acclimation chamber to desiredconditions before the components are inserted within the acclimationchamber, the acclimation chamber may be arranged in a desiredconfiguration that favors acclimation for a predetermined period oftime. For example, the acclimation chamber may set for about twenty-four(24) hours before the components are inserted into the acclimationchamber. In alternative embodiments, sensors may be employed to set theamount of time that the acclimation chamber is acclimated.

In other embodiments, measurements of environmental conditions are madeand/or calculated, including comparisons of measurements, to determinewhether or not environmental conditions are at, near or within a desiredrange and/or threshold of a desired environmental condition. In oneaspect, one or more sensors may be used to make the measurements, and aprocessor and/or controller including library processors and/orcontrollers may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 8, process 3000 for acclimating one or more componentsfor transport into and/or out of a data storage library is described inaccordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. The process may beused to service, provide and/or retrieve components (e.g., data storagecartridges, robot accessors, library controllers, power supplies, etc.)of a data storage library. While the process may be considered for thesake of convenience and not with the intent of limiting the disclosureas comprising a series and/or number of steps, it will be appreciatedthat the process does not need to be performed as a series of stepsand/or the steps do not need to be performed in the order shown anddescribed, but may be performed as an integrated process, a series ofsteps, in the order described or in an alternative order. At 3002, aservice mode may be initiated, either manually or automatically, inaccordance with any of the above-described methods. At 3004, one or moreenvironmental barriers are deployed within at least one of the servicebays and/or active, operational frames of the data storage library so asto form an acclimation chamber and environmentally insulate, separateand/or isolate at least a portion of the one or more service bays and/oroperational frames from the environmental conditions within the otherlibrary frames. Deployed may refer to placing, moving, enabling,engaging, activating, closing, etc. an environmental barrier, asdiscussed previously. In addition, a permanent barrier (e.g., hangingslots or a split membrane) may be deployed by default and may becometemporarily undeployed when an accessor or another component of the datastorage library passes therethrough. The barriers preferably operate toresist, impede, inhibit, and/or prevent environmental conditions, e.g.,temperature and/or humidity, from within the interior of the libraryfrom intruding into the acclimation chamber, and vice versa.

At 3006, the desired one or more environmental conditions of concern(e.g., temperature and/or humidity levels) within the acclimationchamber are determined (e.g., via environmental sensors), and/orcorresponding one or more environmental conditions associated with theinterior and/or exterior of the data storage library. At 3008, thedesired one or more environmental conditions (e.g., the temperatureand/or humidity) within the acclimation chamber are compared with thecorresponding environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and/orhumidity) in the interior and/or exterior of the data storage library todetermine if they are at, near, and/or within a desired range orthreshold of each other. The threshold may be predetermined or may besubject to calculations based upon the external and/or internalconditions of the library. If the environmental conditions (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity levels) within the acclimation chamber areat, near, and/or within a range or threshold of the correspondingenvironmental conditions within or outside the data storage library, theacclimation process is complete and the acclimation chamber may beaccessed by either an operator or an accessor at step 3012.

If at 3008, the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and/orhumidity levels) within the acclimation chamber are not at, near, and/orwithin the desired threshold or desired range of the correspondingenvironmental conditions within or outside the data storage library,then the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and/or humiditylevels) within the acclimation chamber are gradually increased ordecreased, at 3010, so as to be at, near, and/or with a desired range orthreshold of the corresponding environmental conditions (e.g., thetemperature and/or humidity levels) outside of or within the datastorage library, dependent upon the direction of acclimation desired.The environmental conditions (e.g., temperature and/or humidity levels)may be increased and/or decreased via any of the environmental controldevices described above, by actively employing vents, portals, or smallopenings that communicate with the desired environmental conditions(interior or exterior of the library) to speed up and/or facilitate theacclimation process, or simply through exposure to the environmentalconditions within the acclimation chamber which may have been created bythe barrier in part insulating, separating and/or isolating the interiorand exterior environments, and optionally adjusting the environmentalconditions of the acclimation chamber to be at, near, and/or within adesired range or threshold of the environmental conditions inside ofand/or outside of the data storage library (by, for example, relying onconvective and/or conductive heating/cooling, active environmentalcontrol devices, and/or the associated environmental conditioningunit(s)).

Referring now to FIG. 9, a process 4000 in accordance with anotherembodiment for acclimating components in an acclimation chamber isdisclosed. At 4002, a service mode is initiated, either manually orautomatically, in accordance with any of the above-described methods.While the process may be considered for the sake convenience and notwith the intent of limiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/ornumber of steps, it will be appreciated that the process does not needto be performed as a series of steps and/or the steps do not need to beperformed in the order shown and described, but may be performed as anintegrated process, a series of steps, in the order described or in analternative order. At 4004, one or more environmental barriers aredeployed within at least one of the service bays and/or active,operational library frames of the data storage library system so as toform an acclimation chamber and environmentally insulate, separate,and/or isolate at least a portion of the one or more service bays and/oractive, operational library frames from the environmental conditionswithin the other library frames. Deployed may refer to placing, moving,enabling, engaging, activating, closing, etc. an environmental barrier,as discussed previously. In addition, a permanent barrier (e.g., hangingslots or a split membrane) may be deployed by default and may becometemporarily undeployed when an accessor or another component of the datastorage library passes therethrough. The barriers preferably operate toresist, impede, inhibit, and/or prevent environmental conditions, e.g.,temperature and/or humidity, from within the interior of the libraryfrom intruding into the acclimation chamber, and vice versa.

At 4006, a library controller/processor counts and/or determines whethera certain period of time elapses since deployment of the environmentalbarrier. At 4008, if the predetermined amount of time has not passed,the acclimation process continues where the environmental conditions(e.g., temperature and/or humidity levels) within the acclimationchamber are gradually increased or decreased at 4010. The environmentalconditions within the acclimation chamber may gradually increase ordecrease over a period of time, and/or alternatively until they are at,near, and/or with a desired range or threshold of the correspondingenvironmental conditions (e.g., the temperature and/or humidity levels)outside of or within the data storage library, dependent upon thedirection of acclimation desired. The environmental conditions (e.g.,temperature and/or humidity levels) in the acclimation chamber may beincreased and/or decreased via any of the environmental control devicesdescribed above, through utilization of the environmental conditioningunit if appropriate, or through exposure to the ambient air inside ofand/or outside of the data storage library and relying on convectiveand/or conductive heating/cooling modes to change the temperature (e.g.,osmosis) of the acclimation chamber. If the determined amount of timehas passed, which may be predetermined and/or calculated in real timebased upon environmental conditions inside and outside of the datastorage library, the acclimation process is complete and the acclimationchamber may be accessed by either an operator or an accessor at 4012.

Next, with reference to FIG. 10, a process 5000 in accordance withanother embodiment for acclimating an acclimation chamber is disclosed.While the process may be considered for the sake of convenience and notwith the intent of limiting the disclosure as comprising a series and/ornumber of steps, it will be appreciated that the process does not needto be performed as a series of steps and/or the steps do not need to beperformed in the order shown and described, but may be performed as anintegrated process, a series of steps, in the order described or in analternative order. At 5002, a service mode is initiated, either manuallyor automatically, in accordance with any of the above-described methods.At 5004, one or more environmental barriers are deployed within at leastone of the service bays and/or at least one of the active, operationallibrary frames of the data storage library system so as to form anacclimation chamber and environmentally insulate, separate, and/orisolate at least a portion of the one or more service bays from theconditions within the other library frames. Deployed may refer toplacing, moving, enabling, engaging, activating, closing, etc. anenvironmental barrier, as discussed previously. In addition, a permanentbarrier (e.g., hanging slots or a split membrane) may be deployed bydefault and may become temporarily undeployed when an accessor oranother component of the data storage library passes therethrough. Thebarriers preferably operate to resist, impede, inhibit, and/or preventenvironmental conditions, e.g., temperature and/or humidity, from withinthe interior of the library from intruding into the acclimation chamber,and vice versa.

At 5006, one or more desired environmental conditions (e.g., temperatureand/or humidity) both within the service bay(s) and outside of the datastorage library are determined. Such a determination of environmentalconditions may be made by one or more environmental condition sensorsdisposed within the acclimation chamber(s) of the at least one servicebay and/or at least one active, operational library frame(s), and/orexternal to the data storage library. The sensor(s) may be incommunication with the library processing unit and/or controller. At5008, a determination is made as to whether or not the environmentalconditions detected within the acclimation chamber of the at least oneservice bay(s) and/or active, operational library frames are at, near,and/or within a desired range or threshold of the internal environmentalconditions of the library and/or external environmental conditions. Ifno, the process continues where the one or more environmental conditions(e.g., the temperature and/or humidity levels) within one or more of theacclimation chamber(s) of the service bays and/or active, operationlibrary frames are gradually increased or decreased at 5010 so as to beat, near, and/or within a desired range or threshold of thecorresponding environmental conditions (e.g., the temperature and/orhumidity levels) inside and/or outside of the data storage library. Theenvironmental conditions (e.g., the temperature and/or humidity levels)may be actively increased and/or decreased via any of the environmentalcontrol devices, and/or by utilizing the environmental conditioning unitassociated with the library system as described above. However, if it isdetermined at 5008 that the environmental conditions within theacclimation chamber of the one or more service bay(s) and/or active,operational library frames are at, near, and/or within a desired rangeor threshold of the internal and/or external conditions, the acclimationprocess is complete and the acclimation chamber may be accessed byeither an operator or an accessor at 5012.

It follows that various embodiments described and/or suggested hereinare able to provide data storage systems, and optionally, automated datastorage libraries having climate control capabilities associated withthe automated data storage library, with at least one acclimationchamber. As a result, favorable conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity,absence of contaminants, etc.) may be maintained for the data storagedrives, data storage cartridges, and/or data storage media which may bestored in the library frame, while condensation formation and/oraccumulation on the media (and its subsequent effect on contactingdevices) may be impeded, resisted, inhibited and preferably avoided.Impeding, resisting, inhibiting and/or substantially avoiding theformation and accumulation of condensation and moisture may beparticularly beneficial for tape libraries, tape cartridges and tapemedia. Moreover, a data storage library may be maintained at anappropriate temperature, humidity, contaminant level, etc. regardless ofwhether the library is installed in unfavorable (e.g., hot and/or wet)conditions. Herein, a frame comprises an expansion component of alibrary that provides any or all of the following: data storagecartridge slots, data storage drives, I/O storage slots, robotaccessors, redundant components, etc. In addition, frames may be addedto the side of a library, on top of a library, behind a library, infront of a library, under a library, components or modules in a rack,etc. While the description of this disclosure has included frames,modules, rack units or other expansion components of a library, aspectsof the disclosure, and the use of an acclimation chamber, are notlimited to expandable data storage libraries. Any library, whethercomprising expansion components or not, may be divided into portionswherein an environmental barrier is used to environmentallydifferentiate one library portion from another library portion.

In a number of the processes described above, a determination is made asto whether or not the one or more environmental conditions within theacclimation chamber is at, near, within a range of and/or within athreshold of the one or more environmental conditions of the interiorand/or exterior of the data storage library. The amount by which theconditions inside the acclimation chamber are near, within a range of,and/or within a threshold of the conditions inside and/or outside thedata storage library may be predetermined and set during programming,delivery or set and/or reset during use and may be based uponenvironmental conditions of the location and facility where the datastorage library will be operated, and the internal environmentalconditions the library will be exposed to during operation. The numbersand/or values (e.g., how near, the range and/or threshold difference)may be set in memory and/or placed in a look-up table based upon theanticipated conditions of use. Alternatively, the numbers and/or valuesfor how near, the range, and/or threshold differences can be based uponcalculations performed in real time based upon the conditions of use,and/or look-up tables may be programmed and which provide the numbersand values for how near, the range and/or threshold differences basedupon real time measurements of the environmental conditions in therespective areas (acclimation chamber, interior and exterior of the datastorage library) and the process being undertaken.

The present disclosure may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent disclosure.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an SD card (Secure Digital), micro-SD card,CompactFlash, a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compactdisc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memorystick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cardsor raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readablestorage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as beingtransitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present disclosure may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Moreover, a system according to various embodiments may include aprocessor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor,the logic being configured to perform one or more of the process stepsrecited herein. By integrated with, what is meant is that the processorhas logic embedded therewith as hardware logic, such as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array(FPGA), etc. By executable by the processor, what is meant is that thelogic is hardware logic; software logic such as firmware, part of anoperating system, part of an application program; etc., or somecombination of hardware and software logic that is accessible by theprocessor and configured to cause the processor to perform somefunctionality upon execution by the processor. Software logic may bestored on local and/or remote memory of any memory type, as known in theart. Any processor known in the art may be used, such as a softwareprocessor module and/or a hardware processor such as an ASIC, a FPGA, acentral processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit (IC), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), etc.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode may include at least one processor, which may be or be part of acontroller, coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through asystem bus, such as controller 400 of FIG. 4. The memory elements caninclude local memory employed during actual execution of the programcode, such as nonvolatile memory 404 of FIG. 4, bulk storage, and cachememories which provide temporary storage of at least some program codein order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulkstorage during execution.

It will be clear that the various features of the foregoing systemsand/or methodologies may be combined in any way, creating a plurality ofcombinations from the descriptions presented above.

It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be provided in the form of a service deployed on behalfof a customer to offer service on demand.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosurehave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data storage library for the handling of aplurality of data storage cartridges comprising: at least a firstlibrary portion and at least a second library portion, wherein thesecond library portion is configured to store and receive mediaassociated with one or more data storage cartridges and comprises anenvironmental conditioning unit configured to control at least oneenvironmental condition within the second library portion to bedifferent than at least one environmental condition external to thefirst library portion and external to the second library portion; atleast one acclimation chamber formed within the first library portion,wherein the at least one acclimation chamber permits transition of atleast one environmental condition within the at least one acclimationchamber toward one of the at least one environmental condition of thesecond library portion and the at least one environmental conditionexternal to the first library portion and the second library portion;and at least one deployable environmental barrier, wherein the at leastone deployable environmental barrier is configured to extend at leastpartially between the first library portion and the second libraryportion to insulate the at least one environmental condition within theat least one acclimation chamber from the at least one environmentalcondition within the second library portion.
 2. The data storage libraryof claim 1, wherein, in a first mode, one or more environmentalconditions within the at least one acclimation chamber are controlled togradually transition toward the one or more environmental conditionswithin the second library portion, and further wherein, in a secondmode, the one or more environmental conditions within the at least oneacclimation chamber are controlled to gradually transition the one ormore environmental conditions within the at least one acclimationchamber toward one or more environmental conditions external to the datastorage library.
 3. The data storage library of claim 1, wherein the atleast one deployable environmental barrier is at least one of the groupconsisting of one of a door, a hanging panel, a sliding panel, a hingedpanel, hanging slots, hanging flaps, a split membrane, baffles, ducts,air valves, an air curtain, and combinations therefor.
 4. The datastorage library of claim 1, wherein the at least one deployableenvironmental barrier is deployed by at least one of the groupconsisting of manually by an operator and automatically by a componentassociated with at least one of the first library portion and the secondlibrary portion.
 5. The data storage library of claim 4, wherein the atleast one deployable environmental barrier is deployed by at least oneof a robotic accessor, a library controller via a mechanical controldevice, and combinations thereof.
 6. The data storage library of claim1, wherein the at least one acclimation chamber comprises at least oneenvironmental control device, wherein the at least one environmentalcontrol device consists of at least one of a thermoelectric heater,thermoelectric cooler, an electric heater, a liquid heater, a liquidcooler, an air conditioner, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, anionizer, a de-ionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, at least one fan,and any combination thereof.
 7. The data storage library of claim 1,wherein the first library portion and the second library portion is atleast one of a service bay configured for service of components withinthe data storage library and an active, operational data storage libraryframe.
 8. The data storage library of claim 7, wherein the at least oneservice bay forms the at least one acclimation chamber.
 9. The datastorage library of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the groupconsisting of at least one environmental sensor configured to sense atleast one environmental condition within the second library portion, atleast one environmental sensor configured to sense at least oneenvironmental condition within the at least one acclimation chamber, andat least one environmental sensor configured to sense at least oneenvironmental condition external to the data storage library.
 10. Asystem comprising: at least a first data storage frame and at least asecond date storage frame, wherein the second data storage framecomprises an environmental conditioning unit configured to control atleast one environmental condition within at least the second datastorage frame; and at least one environmental barrier selectivelydeployable between the first data storage frame and the second datastorage frame, wherein the at least one environmental barrier isconfigured to selectively separate the first data storage frame from thesecond data storage frame to form an acclimation chamber in the firstdata storage frame.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least oneenvironmental barrier is deployed by at least one of the groupconsisting of manually by an operator and automatically by a componentof at least one of the first data storage frame and the second datestorage frame.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least oneenvironmental barrier is at least one of the group consisting of a door,a hanging panel, a sliding panel, a hinged panel, hanging slots, hangingflaps, a split membrane, baffles, ducts, air valves, an air curtain, andcombinations thereof.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein theacclimation chamber comprises at least one environmental control device,and further wherein the at least one environmental control devicecomprises of at least one of a thermoelectric heater, a thermoelectriccooler, an electric heater, a liquid heater, a liquid cooler, an airconditioner, a heat pump, an evaporative cooler, an ionizer, adeionizer, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, at least one fan, and anycombination thereof.
 14. The system of claim 10, further comprising atleast one environmental sensor configured to sense at least oneenvironmental condition within the first data storage frame, at leastone environmental sensor configured to sense at least one environmentalcondition within the second data storage frame, and at least oneenvironmental sensor configured to sense at least one environmentalcondition external to the first data storage frame and the second datastorage frame.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first datastorage frame comprises at least a portion of a service bay.
 16. Amethod of servicing or replacing a component within a data storagelibrary, the method comprising: providing a data storage library havingat least a first library portion and a second library portion; providingan environmental barrier at least partially between the first libraryportion and the second library portion so as to separate theenvironmental conditions within the first library portion from theenvironmental conditions within the second library portion to form atleast one acclimation chamber within the first library portion;monitoring at least one environmental condition within the at least oneacclimation chamber; monitoring at least one environmental conditionwithin at least one of an interior of the second library portion and anoutside of the first library portion and an outside of the secondlibrary portion; determining if the at least one environmental conditionwithin the at least one acclimation chamber is within a determined rangeof one of the monitored environmental conditions within the secondlibrary portion and environmental conditions outside of the firstlibrary portion and the second library portion; and accessing the atleast one acclimation chamber when it is determined that the at leastone environmental condition within the at least one acclimation chamberis within the determined range.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein theat least one environmental condition monitored within at least one ofthe interior of the second library, the exterior of the first libraryportion and the exterior of the second library portion, and within theat least one acclimation chamber is at least one of temperature andhumidity.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising incrementallyadjusting at least one environmental condition within the at least oneacclimation chamber based upon at least one of the monitoredenvironmental conditions within the second library portion and themonitored environmental conditions outside of the first library portionand outside of the second library portion.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising using at least one environmental control device toincrementally adjust at least one of the environmental conditions withinthe at least one acclimation chamber.
 20. The method of claim 16,wherein providing the environmental barrier comprises selectivelydeploying the environmental barrier at least partially between the firstlibrary portion and the second library portion.